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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Soil Conservation Service. Colorado Technical Guide RANGE SITE N0. 233 ' Section II E GR~'PTl¢ ~KLG,~F1eld Office August 1975 RANGE SITE DESCRIPTION for MOUNTAIN LOAM, 10-14" P.Z. Land Resource Area: Southern Rocky Mountains (48) A. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Phvsiographic Features This site is located on open benchlands, outwash fans, and exposed . ridges between parks or valleys and higher mountain slopes. It also takes in some shallow, gravelly stream terraces in the same localities. Topography is gentle to moderately rolling. Slopes are mostly between 1 and 12$ and are not significant to plant growth. ~, Elevation ranges from 8000 to 9500 feet. 2. Climatic Features Average annual precipitation Is 10 to 14 inches. Roughly half of this falls between May 1 and September 1, mostly from hard, spotty thundershowers in July and August. May and June are normally dry on much of the site. Wide seasonal and yearly variations are common. Major native plants make most of their growth between early May and late July, sometimes extending it through most of August. Some plants normally complete growth by mid-June and may make late re-growth. Mean annual temperature is about 40° to 42° F. Average frost-free season is 70 to 90 days, from June to early September. Summer days are warm but nights are cool. Temperatures of -20° to -30° F can be expected each year and are common some winters. Snow cover is often light and drifted by wind, although snow is usually deeper and melts later than on lower valley lands. Frequently when the soil is warm enough for optimum growth much of the moisture from snowmelt has evaporated due to drying winds. Climate, therefore, makes the site more productive and favorable to cool-season grasses than some lower lands, but less productive and more restricted as to species than many localities at the same elevations. _